The Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that many pharma companies were upset with him because of his government’s decision of reducing the price of medicines and stents. He was addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Kiran multi-specialty hospital in Surat, Gujarat. The PM also said that the health surveys across the world have reinstated the importance of sanitary and no one in our country gave much attention to protective healthcare measures.

“After assuming office, mechanisms were put to bring down prices of medicines even if that meant pharma companies are unhappy with us. It was decided to reduce the prices of stents so that affordable health care is a reality in India,” PM said. PM Modi is traveling through Gujarat for the 2017 assembly elections in the state, where he could be the face of the Bharatiya Janata Party too. He also shared that his government’s Swachh Bharat mission is a part of promoting preventive healthcare habits. As the Prime Minister is in his home state, Modi said that he was unsure whether he should speak in his mother tongue or Hindi. However, he selected Hindi as PM felt that they have done a big work and people should know about it.

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 550-bed Kiran Super specialty Hospital, which is built at a cost of Rs 400 crore. He said that the poor must have access to quality and affordable healthcare. “The poor must have access to quality and affordable healthcare…There are powerful people who are unhappy with me. But, my commitment is to provide affordable healthcare for the poor and the middle class,” PM said. He also said that he will inaugurate the places where he laid foundation stones. “Labour is more valuable than money. I had said that I will also inaugurate the places where I lay foundation stones because I want to see the work completed. This hospital (Kiran Multispeciality Hospital) is built on a foundation of hard work and family value,” PM added. Modi also said that the drug-makers are angry with him as he had inclined for moderating the prices of heart stents. “I told them those for Rs 40,000 should be given to Rs 6,000-7,000 and the ones worth Rs 1.5 lakh should go for Rs 20,000,” PM Modi added. He also requested all citizens to come together and serve the nation with their hard work. “Our nation was neither built, nor can it be run by governments, kings, and politicians, but only by the service and hard work of its people,” Modi said at the public meeting.

After this, PM Modi also inaugurated a diamond manufacturing unit of Hare Krishna exports in Surat. The PM also said that he’s going to Israel in July on the behalf of the diamond makers. “I’m soon going to Israel, in fact, I’m the first Prime Minister to go to Israel, and I’m going there on your behalf. You have trading relations with that country,” PM said. PM Modi is in Surat on a two-day visit, where he was accorded a grand welcome with a motorcycle rally of thousands of riders. He is also scheduled to visit the Bajipura village in Tapi district, where he will also inaugurate a cattle feed plant and an ice-cream plant of Sumul Dairy. PM Modi reached Surat on Sunday night and met his supporters through a roadshow from the airport to the Circuit House.